Eye of the Raven: Storm Bloodline Saga

By Emmy R. Bennett

Magic comes with a price, but how much will it cost?

Born a necromancer witch, Petra fights against her fate of becoming the next queen of the House of Zhir. As heir to the underworld, she longs to be free from the chains of her family's line, but she's forced to adhere to the customs of dark magic.

Thwarting the plans her grandfather laid out for her future, Petra trades one freedom for another, and seeks out the Eye of the Raven—the only one who can protect her from such vile atrocities about to be bestowed upon her.

Magic comes with a price. Is she willing to pay it? Life is about choices. Will Petra make the right one, or will her ultimate decision set her demise?

 

◆ Eye of the Raven: is a prequel to the Storm Bloodline Saga. It's a story of how the saga began. Possible spoilers if you have not read books 1-4 in the Storm Bloodline Saga, however this book can be read at any point in the entire saga bloodline. It is a single standalone book, that will open many questions to the rest of the series. 

 

◆◆◆ Storm Bloodline Saga ◆◆◆

Book 1: Eyes of Wynter

Book 2: Different Shade of Wynter

Book 3: Wynter Reign

Book 4: Wynter's Fury

Prequel: Eye of the Raven

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emmy R Bennett
• Release date: Jun 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781950501083

Book preview

Eye of the Raven

Prequel: Storm Bloodline Saga

Emmy R. Bennett

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Dream Script Media

Copyright © 2022 Emmy R. Bennett

Published by Dream Script Media LLC

Library of Congress Control Number 1-11409905251

© 2022 Cover by, Lily Dormishev

Edited by Gail Delaney

Edited by Rebecca Jaycox

ISBN: (Ebook) 978-1-950501-08-3

ISBN: (Pbk) 978-1-950501-09-0

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be used to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any other form, to include photocopying, recording, or electronic methods, without prior written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations for book review.

Eye of the Raven is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places, events, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Dedication

Thank you, Grandma June, for giving me the encouragement to pursue my dreams. You knew it was possible before I did.

I’m forever grateful. You will be missed.

Contents

1. Castle Secrets

2. Grandfather’s Wrath

3. Escape into Darkness

4. Trapped

5. Tracks in the Snow

6. The Blue Oak Tree

7. The Raven

8. The Invisible Bridge

9. The Liquid portal

10. Wisteria Keep

11. Someone Familiar

12. Eyes as Blue as Mine

13. Changes

14. A Tree House

15. A Date with Fate

16. Book of Secrets

17. The Ring

18. Gifts and Magic

19. Choose Your Weapon

20. Back from the Dead

21. Hall of Secrets

22. Betrayed

23. It’s Time

24. A New World

Completed Book List

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

1

Castle Secrets

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Where is it? It must be here somewhere. I yank open the first three drawers of the desk and come up empty-handed. I check the next drawer. It’s locked.

I’m on borrowed time. Everyone is asleep, and here I am, tiptoeing through the dark castle to the study where my grandfather keeps his documents. If I’m caught, he won’t think twice to kill me, even if I’m his blood.

According to Tharin, my beau, these documents are in here somewhere. I need to find them. Tharin said the whole kingdom will die if I don’t. It is guaranteed, war will transpire should Grandfather follow through with his orders. At first, I didn’t believe a word Tharin said, but then I started adding up certain events that since have occurred. It proves my grandfather, the King of the Underworld, is planning something big.

I take a pin from my hair and work the lock. It takes a bit of effort, but I’m able to pop the latch. I open the drawer only to find it empty.

No, this can’t be, I whisper. A few pens roll as I pull the drawer open more and I feel around for a secret latch, but nothing is there.

Footsteps outside the office door approach, prompting me to close the drawer and quickly hide. Who could be up at this hour? It’s two in the morning.

I slip behind the thick drapes next to the window, barely making it in time, and observe the door slowly creaking open. Peeking between the cracks of the velvet curtains, I realize it’s Tharin. What’s he doing here? I told him I would get the task accomplished. I’m annoyed by his impatience.

He follows the same steps as I did. Even popping the drawer that is empty, only he manages to pull out the documents I didn’t see. The same documents he asked me to steal. How is that possible? Why do I get the feeling I’m being played?

As he sifts through the papers, a few pages fall onto the floor, and he proceeds to pick them up.

His back is turned when my grandfather comes strolling in. How did you get in here?

I grin because Grandfather loves to sneak up on the unsuspecting. It’s one of his many talents.

Tharin stumbles on his words. I–I was passing the hall, Sire, and noticed your door was ajar.

I think hard. No, I’m sure I closed it tight. He’s lying.

And then when I came to inspect your study, this drawer was unlocked. Tharin points where he’d dropped the plans. I found those on the floor, he lies, again.

Why is Tharin here? I wonder if he’s been spying. Is he covering for me so I don’t get into trouble, or is he trying to frame me? I’m still hooked on the fact that he pulled the plans out of the same drawer I already checked.

My grandfather narrows his eyes. You know, Tharin, when I hired you to guard Princess Petra it didn’t mean you had the right to come into my study. Calling a guard would have put you in a better favor with me than at present.

Yes, Sire. Tharin nods.

Grandfather takes in a deep breath. He’s always had patience, but that’s also what keeps people guessing. His quiet demeanor is what terrifies everyone. We never know what he’s thinking. You may go. I’ll deal with you later.

I watch as Tharin dusts something from his hands off onto the scattered pages lying on the floor and in the drawer. What is that? Grandfather didn’t see Tharin’s silent sleight of hand.

Does Tharin really know I’m here? I watch him exit while Grandfather picks up the papers and tightly stacks them back together. He mumbles something under his breath, but I can’t make out what he says, then places them back in the locked drawer, taking the key with him.

That was close. Hurrying from the drapes, I make a second attempt to grab the papers, and this time I’m able to see the documents. There is magic flowing through these walls, and I begin to see precisely what is happening. Not only do I see the plans where I once did not, but a book is also in the same drawer.

What is going on here? I pick it up. It is larger than most volumes with the binding bound in brown leather. The front of the cover reads in gold lettering: Book of Secrets.

When I flip open the pages, they’re all blank. Why would my grandfather hold such a book as this? If this is important enough to hide, then it’s important enough for me to steal, but how am I going to haul this out of here without it being seen? If I’m caught, there will be no way of concealing it.

I pick up grandfather’s papers, too, and fold them in half, putting them inside the book. I put everything back as it was and sneak out the door. I must be careful. I wasn’t expecting to steal such a large item. Papers can easily be hidden, but this, well, it’s rather heavy, too. My arms already ache from holding the book as I pass down the dark hallways back to my living quarters. Avoiding the guards will be tricky. I need to take the back steps the servants use if I want to slip away unnoticed. I skip around the outer edge of the breezeway between my grandfather’s living quarters and my parents’. Our palace is grand, almost like it’s two separate structures, residing on either side of a sea cliff. The two spaces are separated by a bridge. Below rolls the ocean with rocks that scale the sides. I’ll be out in the open when I cross. Thankfully, the dark phase of our moons doesn’t show much light during this time, so it makes it easier for me to hide in the shadows.

I come up the back steps to our living quarters and dip inside the corridor. To my right is the long, dark hall that leads back to the sleeping quarters, and to my left is the balcony that overlooks the breezeway from which I came. Mother’s alcove sets off to the side where she does her magic rituals.

I’m thankful I looked before passing to my room because I observe two shadows moving, which keep me still against the cold stone wall. Chattering whispers of two familiar voices spark my intrigue.

I shouldn’t eavesdrop on such conversations, but when this is my only way back to my room, I have no choice but to listen.

Are you sure this is going to work? he asks.

My heart sinks. Tharin? I know I shouldn’t spy, but curiosity has the better of me.

It will if you don’t screw it up, she says.

My stomach churns. I have a hard time swallowing back the bile rising in my throat. Why is my mother speaking to Tharin? Does she know about us?

Just do as I say, and everything will continue as planned, she adds.

If Vothule finds out—

He won’t, she interrupts.

What about Petra?

What about her? I can hear the venom in her tone. My father favors her because she’s the first-born grandchild. If you do exactly as I intend for you to do, it will all fall into place perfectly. Has she fallen in love with you yet?

Before Tharin can answer, footsteps echo through the dark corridor, prompting them to be quiet.

Someone’s coming. Go. Get out of here before you’re seen, she says.

Did my mother cook up a scheme for Tharin to come into my life? I push my back farther against the cold stone wall as the shadow of a man passes in the darkness.

It’s my father. What are you doing out here on the balcony on such a cold night. Darling, you’re going to catch a chill.

Just looking out among the stars, my love. Her malicious tone from earlier vanishes. No need to check up on me, Octavious. I’m fine. My mother Sarmira is the daughter of none other than the ruler of the underworld, Vothule, my grandfather.

I’m guessing my father has no clue of Mother’s deceitfulness.

They step inside from the balcony, and I watch as they move to her small ritual room. Glass shatters, startling me, and it almost foils my eavesdropping. At first, I think it’s our cat, knocking off a dish from the alter table butted against a wall, in Mother’s alcove, but then my father asks, Why not use a knife, Sarmira?

Panic flows through my veins. Oh no, she’s starting the ritual now. I didn’t think she’d go through with it while guests arrive for the celebration of my birthday, scheduled in two days.

Glass slices cleaner, she says. Plus, my father will think the children cut themselves. If I use a knife, he’ll suspect something. I hear the slight gasp of pain from my mother’s lips. I’ll need samples from the girls, too. Combining all of our blood together will bind our powers.

What? I can’t see, but I can hear liquid drip into a container. If she takes my blood, I will be marked for eternity. I can’t let that happen. I’m trapped where I stand. If I move, they will see me. I’d been planning to run away for a few weeks now. I even confided with Tharin about it. Oh no. My mother knows my plans. The two of them probably have something cooked up already and are one step ahead of me. That must be why she’s starting the ritual now. No matter where I go, she will be able to find me. I need to get out of here tonight.

It seems I’m not the only one with secrets to hide, though. Knowing that my mother and my beau have a scheme prepared—and that they don’t want my grandfather to know—has me concerned. I don’t dare attempt to confide with Tharin on anything I do from here on out, especially now. I’m such a fool.

In a low raspy voice, Mother says, I’m going to find out who it is, Octavious. Now, you can either help me or stay out of my way.

Father grunts. Now you’re being dramatic. Of the two of them, he’s always been the one who is reasonable.

I’m being dramatic?

It’s late, darling. Come to bed, and we can finish this in the morning, Father encourages her.

My parents casually walk down the dark, dreary hall to my sisters’